Types of livery explained

The main types

Livery means keeping your horse at a yard that is not your own. The British Horse Society (BHS) describes four main packages, and one related arrangement ¹. Services vary between yards, so check what each one includes ¹.

• Full livery. Yard staff provide daily care, such as feeding, mucking out and turnout. Exercise may be included ¹.
• Part livery. Daily tasks are shared between you and the yard. For example, you might come in the morning and staff care for your horse later in the day ¹.
• DIY livery. You rent a stable or housing and grazing, and do all the daily care yourself ¹.
• Grass livery. Your horse lives in a field all year. Some yards include feeding, watering and changing rugs ¹.
• Working livery. This is offered at some riding schools. You pay reduced fees and your horse is used in lessons. Different people will ride your horse, and you may not always be able to ride when it is needed for teaching ¹.

The BHS livery centre criteria also refer to “assisted” livery, which sits between DIY and a full service ³. The criteria don’t define it in detail, so ask the yard what it means in practice.

What is usually included

Costs and inclusions vary by location, facilities and support ¹. The BHS lists these points to check ¹:

• arena access and lighting
• year-round turnout
• whether hay and bedding are included
• staff help
• extras, such as holding your horse for the vet or farrier

Ask what is included and what costs extra so that you can plan your budget ¹. Also check whether staff work seven days a week, or whether you must provide full care at weekends ¹.

This guide gives no prices: we haven’t found published, dated prices fit to quote.

Questions to ask a yard

The BHS suggests asking about ¹:

• safety measures and emergency plans
• disease prevention policies, and whether your horse needs a strangles test before moving
• how new horses are quarantined
• whether the yard uses a risk-based worming programme
• whether turnout is in a group or on its own, and how group turnout is managed
• whether turnout is available all year, and how fields are managed in winter
• opening and closing times
• who cares for horses when owners cannot attend
• which facilities are available, and when
• any yard rules

The BHS also says yards should carry appropriate insurance, such as public liability. It says you should check you have the right insurance for any horse in your care ¹. The Code of Practice adds that you can be held legally responsible for damage your horse causes, even if you took precautions ².

Livery agreements

Nothing in the fetched sources sets out a standard livery contract. They do give some pointers.

The BHS approved livery centre criteria expect a livery contract that clearly sets out the horse owner’s and the yard’s responsibilities for routine healthcare and any exercise needs ³. They describe this as an agreement that details how healthcare, welfare and exercise needs are met, including planning for emergencies ³.

For horses on DIY or assisted care, the criteria expect an emergency care plan for each horse. The criteria say such a plan helps if emergencies are not covered in the livery agreement ³.

For prescription-only medicines, the criteria say that on DIY or assisted care the yard should be told and should agree a system for safe management and administration ³.

Your welfare duties at livery

Moving your horse to a yard does not remove your responsibility. The Code of Practice says an owner has ongoing responsibility for their animal even if another person is in charge of it ².

If you leave your horse in someone else’s care, it is your duty to ensure the keeper is competent and has the authority to act in an emergency ².

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 requires you to ensure that any horse you are responsible for, permanently or temporarily ²:

• has a suitable environment
• has a healthy diet, including fresh clean water
• can behave normally
• has appropriate company
• is protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Breaching the Code is not an offence in itself. However, a court looks at whether you complied with it when deciding whether a welfare offence was committed ².

The Code also says to consider contingency plans, such as who cares for the horse if the keeper is away, and to review them when circumstances change ².

Where to get help

The Code of Practice says to seek further advice from a vet or an appropriately qualified and experienced horse care specialist ². The BHS says to ask the yard manager what insurance cover they hold ¹.